Best of 2023 and the Year in Review
It’s once again that time of the year where I look back at the last twelve months and do a round up my favorite reads and goals, and what a year 2023 has been! As I’m sure many readers can relate, it’s hard enough to narrow a whole year’s worth of reading (this year, that’s close to 150 books) down to a “Top 3”, or heck, even a “Top 10.” What I usually do is highlight each genre category and all the books that 1) were my favorites of the year, 2) I thought were most memorable, or 3) I think should be getting more love and attention. The one thing they have in common? I loved them all!
Fantasy
Science Fiction
Horror
Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
As you can see, 2023 was dominated by horror, and it wasn’t even close – most years I feel like publishers push all their big horror titles around the autumn months, but this year I was reading amazing horror books all year long. In contrast, science fiction releases felt a bit sparser, reflected in the fewer sci-fi titles I read in general.
Let me know in the comments if you’ve read any of these books!
Reading Challenges Update
Again, I have been neglectful of my Audiobook Challenge updates this year, but I have been keeping track! Looks like I only did a midyear update, so today you’ll get my full year report. At the begining of the year, instead of scaling back as I should have done, I stuck with my usual goal of Marathoner which was 50 books, but then in July I came to my senses and downgraded my soft goal to My Precious, which is 30. Let’s see if I made it…
The final tally came to 41, which means I made a good call with my decision. Until I step up my audio game, looks like next year My Precious will be the way to go, since I was already padding my numbers to include the books where I listened to the audio edition for at least a part, even if it’s just a few chapters I fit in here or there.
Overview: Books Read in 2023
And now for my favorite part of end-of-year roundup posts: the Goodreads stats and the pretty Year in Books collage!
Since we only have one day left in 2023, these are pretty much my final numbers, minus maybe one or two books I can squeak by past the finish line. I have no complaints, it’s been a pretty productive year!
Goodreads Ratings:
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Best of 2014 and The Year in Review
Best of 2015 and The Year in Review
Best of 2016 and The Year in Review
Best of 2017 and The Year in Review
Best of 2018 and The Year in Review
Best of 2019 and The Year in Review
Best of 2020 and The Year in Review
Best of 2021 and The Year in Review
Best of 2022 and The Year in Review
The BiblioSanctum 
I can’t believe you decided to prioritize your… SLEEP AND FAMILY over reading more audiobooks. It’s selfish, really 😉
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so many good books and so many books to add to my tbr ❤ happy new year, mogsy. sending you so much love always
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Ooh, I just got The Will of the Many for Christmas! It does look dauntingly chonky, though…
I didn’t see the greatest reviews for Rubicon at first, but it does have me curious. Think I’ll have to give it a try.
Looks like you’ve had a pretty great reading year!
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Well done on reading so many books. I somehow haven’t read any of the ones mentioned here 🙈 but I do hope to get to Emily Wilde really soon. During Feburary at the latest hopefully 🤞 I think I only read one thriller this year and still need to get to The Maid.
I hope that you find lots of new favourites during 2024 too and have a fantastic year.
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A very productive year, indeed: you can be proud of your accomplishments! 🙂
Dewes’ Rubicon and Markert’s Mister Lullaby are among the books I hoped to squeeze in before the end of the year, but didn’t manage… There’s always next year, though…
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First off, I would like to challenge you, that for your year in review for 2024, you DO pick a single “best book of the year”. I’d really like to see you try that, Just to be different 😀
Second. Congrats on staying well above the 100 book line. I always enjoy rubbing shoulders with other power readers and the fact that you’re still achieving that level WITH an entire family is stunning to me. So kudos to you!
Third. Way to scale back on the audio challenge in time. Managing expectations is so crucial and sometimes I think that finding the balance of managing the challenge is almost as important as the challenge itself.
Finally. WAY TO GO WITH THAT AVERAGE!!!!!! 3.6? Seriously? I would love to have my average for the whole year be above 3.5. I saw that number and for about 10seconds was intensely jealous. Then I was happy for you 😀
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Our fantasy favorites have lots of overlap this year! I’ll definitely be adding some of your horror faves to my TBR since you always have such great picks 😁 Congrats on an awesome reading year!
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Yes, horror won on my best of list too! So much good horror, and I think 4 of the books that made my Top 5 were horror, lol. The September House was one of the most memorable of the year, I wish more people would read it.
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Love these posts. I haven’t read any of your top books, but I’d like to prioritize the first book in that Richard Swan series and Encyclopedia of Faeries.
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Excellent job on meeting your Reading Goal!
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It was a good reading year. Well done reading so many good reads and so many books! My reading was down this year but I’m back on track now so hopefully 2024 will be a good onel
Happy New Year to you.
Lynn 😀
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Wow, you read so many amazing books in 2023! I could never 😂 haha… I don’t even have a Goodreads account yet. But one of my 2024 resolutions is to start reading manga! I know that it’s not conventional type of books, but it’s reading nonetheless 😁
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I am such a harsh rater, but I did get up to 3.3 this year 😉
A good year for you
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Great year, Mogsy! Congrats on the stats, impressive, and your average is pretty high too, so lots of good books! Here’s to the hope that 2024 will be equally good, or even better!
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Wow! What a year of reading! Congratulations! 🥳
I hope 2024 brings you yet more amazing books! 💖
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